Tiller What to use ?? Box Scraper or Tiller?

[ScottPA]

Hi,

I have been lurking here for a while but this is the first time posting.

I have a field that I currently have horses in. From what the neighbors tell me about 20 years ago it was ½ plowed when farmers plow broke. He left it this way and over the years the ground somewhat settled. What I have now is a few waves in the ground every so often. It is enough to rattle your teeth if you don't see one when dragging the field.

To make a long story short(er) I want to level and replant this field one section at a time. I was thinking that a box scraper would do the trick but my NH dealer wasn't sure. He thought that it might need tilled before trying to level it. Parts of the field are covered with pasture grass and some of it is pretty torn up.

What do you think would do the best job??

Thanks,
Scott

 

[theboman]

A tiller would work wonderful. A good discing may do the trick too.

 

[DannyD]

I am currently in a project to end this on my whole yard. I tilled a section up and it worked great. Dont till too deep, just enough to get the ruts out and for planting grass back in it.

 

[Buster57]

I had a similar application and first aerated it with a rental tractor. I did this because I could not tell what was in the field. I bought insurance on that unit and needed it. This was several years ago.
Last fall I roto-tilled it. It still is not as flat or even as I would like so I am going to roto-till it again this spring and then borrow someone’s harrow. That is sort of like a big heavy chain that is about 7 feet wide. It will smooth or level out the pasture for you.
I am sure other people can give you a better description then I can about the harrow-they know more about what I am describing then I do! It should work.
The advice about over roto-tilling is correct. You can damage your topsoil if you do it too deep or too often. I do it in certain areas about every other year. In your case-a good strong roto tilling may be the only thing that can break up the soil-or a disk. You definitely do not want to disk any more than absolutely necessary.
Have fun!

 

[BobCorazza]

Definitely a tiller IMHO. I tried a section of my field with a box blade a few years ago and the clumped up sod was a real pain to deal with. A tiller at shallow (say 3") depth will do a great job. I recently bought a KingKutter 5' tiller and was pleasently surprised with the qualtity for the money. Hopefully it will last.

 

[Rimmer]

Scott --

Last year I made a real mess in an old garden area when I tried to plow it. (I was really out of practice!)

The last few days have been warm and dry, so I figured it was time to try to fix my mess, and I now have a Kubota BX23, tiller, box blade, etc., that I didn't have last year.

I was able to use the box blade to level off some of the high spots, but for the most part was not successful in doing anything except relocating clumps of dirt and weeds from one place to another.

Next, I tried the tiller. I was planning on tilling first, then using the BB to get things level, but was amazed at what a good job the tiller did by itself. My tiller (Land Pride RTA1550) has an adjustable rear door. I first went through with the door partially open to break up the big clumps, then went back through with the door closed. This left a nice, smooth, level surface and has almost completely eliminated any traces of low spots, dead furrows, etc.

Bottom line: if you have to choose only one, I think the tiller would be your best choice.

 

[grandad]

A box blade can get this done, but it will take longer and leave a mess of sod clumps, as other have noted. You have to start with the rippers down to strip the sod... multiple passes in different directions eventually leave the ground pretty bare.

That by itself may level out the ground sufficiently; if not you can then retract the rippers and let the blade even things out some more.

A tiller gets the same thing done quicker and has other uses also, but it's quite an investment.

 

[ScottPA]

Thanks for the info. I was hoping that the box scraper would do the trick since it is the cheaper option. I have a lot to level and would like to do it a little at a time over the next two summers so a rental would not be cost effective. I picked up some info on King Kutter and Land's Pride. I'm glad that two of you mentioned thoes brands. I was wondering about their quality since they seem reasonably priced.